Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez getting back his velocity

MIAMI – Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, the Cuban defector whom the Phillies signed to a four-year, $12 million contract last year, could find himself pitching for the Phillies this season – as a reliever.

Gonzalez was activated off the 60-day disabled list Tuesday and optioned to Double-A Reading.

He had been pitching the last few weeks for Clearwater on a rehab assignment out of the bullpen.

The Phillies, of course, signed him with the potential of him becoming a No. 3 starter in the rotation.

But Gonzalez was placed on the DL with right shoulder inflammation after a spring training in which he struggled with control and velocity.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro said Gonzalez was moved to the bullpen because he has not been able to keep his velocity or mechanics beyond 40 pitches.

“Once he gets his feet on the ground, we’ll try to stretch him out for next year,” Amaro said.

Amaro said Gonzalez has been throwing consistently in the mid-90s since returning to the mound in June, and reached as high as 97 mph.

When asked how he was able to get up to 97, Amaro responded: “He got pissed off at somebody. He got a little rammy.”

The Phillies made room for Gonzalez by moving reliever Mike Adams from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL.

Adams, who has a 2.12 ERA in 17 innings this season, won’t be able to return until Aug. 7 at the earliest.

That means there could be room for Gonzalez on the major league roster in the coming weeks or month, especially if the Phillies trade some of their relievers before the July 31 deadline.

They could deal closer Jonathan Papelbon and Antonio Bastardo.

Brown on paternity leave

Left fielder Domonic Brown left the team Tuesday for the birth of his child, and was placed on the paternity leave list. He can miss up to three games. Manager Ryne Sandberg said Brown will rejoin the team in Pittsburgh on Friday.

The Phillies recalled outfielder Aaron Altherr from Double-A Reading over former major leaguer Grady Sizemore to take his roster spot.

Sizemore was released last month by the Boston Red Sox before the Phillies signed him and sent him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to get his swing back. Amaro said Sizemore still needs more at-bats before he’s ready for the majors.

Sizemore, who has a history of injury problems, was hitting .216 with five homers and 16 RBIs in 52 games for the Red Sox this season. Entering play on Wednesday, he was 5 for 17 in four games for the IronPigs.

Phillies sign international players

The Phillies signed three international players on the first day teams were allowed to sign the 16-year-old prospects. The period lasts through June 15, 2015.

The Phillies were allotted $3.2 million for international players, and Amaro said he expects to use all of the money. The three signed are shortstops Achimedes Gamboa and Daniel Brito from Venezuela, and left-handed pitcher Jhon Nunez from Panama.

Amaro said Gamboa got a signing bonus of $900,000, Brito $650,000 and Nunez close to $100,000. Amaro added that the Phillies are close to signing a few other players.

Extra innings

Catcher Wil Nieves, on the DL with a shoulder strain, will begin a rehab assignment with the Phillies’ Gulf Coast League team. He likely will be activated by Friday, when he’s eligible to come off the DL ... Sandberg had Marlon Byrd hit fourth and Ryan Howard fifth on Wednesday. Howard has hit fifth eight other times this season, but those were all against a left-handed pitcher. This was the first time Howard hit fifth against a righty. Sandberg said he did it because Byrd has been the team’s most consistent hitter this season.